Ex-Tabung Haji COO faces fourth charge over RM8,882 renovation costs

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Lembaga Tabung Haji chief operating officer Datuk Adi Azuan Abdul Ghani returned to court today to face another charge of accepting RM8,882.77 in renovation costs for a house in 2017.

Adi Azuan, 56, was accused of accepting, while serving as a public servant at Tabung Haji, valuable items without adequate consideration, namely the cost of renovating the house.

He allegedly accepted the costs for the house in Bandar Sri Damansara on March 7, 2017, from AG Reka Sdn Bhd director Thamsulazri Ismail, whom he knew had a connection with his official duties.

The charge was framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail sentence of two years, a fine, or both upon conviction.

Dressed in a dark suit, Adi Azuan entered his plea after the charge was read before judge Suzana Hussin.

"I understand the charge. I plead not guilty," he said calmly.

With the latest charge, Adi Azuan now faces four counts involving alleged renovation costs paid by Thamsulazri on the same date in 2017 for four different houses.

During today's proceedings, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutor Irna Julieza Maaras applied for the case to be transferred to the Shah Alam Sessions Court, where the other three charges are being heard.

"I ask that today's case be transferred and tried together as it involves the same witnesses as well as the same investigation papers.

"I also ask that the same bail amount and additional conditions imposed by the Shah Alam Sessions Court be applied in this case," she said.

Adi Azuan's lawyer, Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin, did not object to the application.

After hearing the submissions, Suzana ordered the case to be transferred to the Shah Alam Sessions Court.

She ruled that the bail imposed in the earlier cases would apply to the accused until the disposal of the case.

Yesterday, at the Shah Alam Sessions Court, Adi Azuan pleaded not guilty to three counts of accepting RM302,499.27 in renovation costs for three houses — one in Section 13 and two others in Kota Damansara and USJ 2, Petaling Jaya.

Judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud granted him bail of RM50,000 with two sureties.

He also ordered him to report to the MACC officer and investigating officer once every three months from October onwards, surrender his passport and refrain from interfering with witnesses.

Wan Azwan Aiman was assisted by co-lawyers Datuk Tania Scivetti and Effa Azuin Aidrul Hisham.